Ken Kieffer from Seattle was at Masich Place Stadium on Saturday, July 12 during Special Olympics BC Summer Games second day of Track & Field.
He was the gate keeper at the breezeway access where athletes and officials could safely cross the track to get to the marshalling area for each track event.
“I have a job to do so we’ll have to chat as I continue my duties,” Kieffer said, with a hint of mischief in his eye.
Kieffer started volunteering with Special Olympics in 1970 when he saw a tiny ad in the Georgetown University newspaper when he was a sophomore.
“The ad said ‘the Special Olympics organization needs help tomorrow,’ and I liked that and I’ve been volunteering for 55 years,” Kieffer said.
He’s traveled the world with Special Olympics and volunteers for 28 non-profit organizations on a regular basis.
As a retired lawyer since 2011 he’s been volunteering pretty much full time.
And the reason he goes anywhere he is needed by Special Olympics at his own expense?
Danielle Pechet was running the final stretch of her 800-metre race and as exhausted as she was she raised her arms in victory as she crossed the finish line. Kieffer pointed to her as the enthusiastic crowd in the bleachers was cheering her on at a deafening level.
His three-word response said it all.
“She is why.”
The idea of contributing something more started early in his life. His mother used to put little notes into his lunch bag and one day in elementary school he found a quote from John Wesley.
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
“And that has stayed with me my whole life,” Kieffer said.
Kieffer has supported his local and national Special Olympics organizations and besides volunteering in Prince George he has given his time at eight World Games including in Italy and Abu Dhabi.
“And every time I do it it’s new, it’s different, it’s wonderful and I am just happy to be a human,” Kieffer said.
One of the most poignant moments Kieffer witnessed at the track on Saturday took place when a young lady could not finish her 400 metre-race.
“She started to cry and immediately two of her competitors went over to give her a hug,” Kieffer said.
“You don’t find that kind of care and camaraderie anywhere else.”
Kieffer said there is no end in sight for his volunteering efforts.
“I’ll just keep on keepin’ on,” he smiled.
